Combination elevator and door control



July 7, 1925. 1,545,164

- c. NORTON COMBINATION ELEVATOR AND DOOR CONTROL:

Filed Jan. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 awwemtoz July 7, 1925.

1,545,164 (.2. NORTON COMBINATION ELEVATOR AND DOOR GONTR QI.

Filed'Jan. 1'7, 1925 5 Shasta-Sheet 2 851 fluomww flw Wag/Av july 7, 1925.

1,545,164 c. NORTON COMBINATION ELEVATOR AND DOOR CONTROL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 1 1925 Jul 7, 1925. 1,545,164

C. NORTON COMBINATION ELEVATOR AND DOOR CONTROL 3440014130: C/f/foro Nor/on.

' LMSAM- July 7, 1925.

c:. NORTUN COMBINATION ELEVATOR AND DOOR CONTROL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 17, 1925 Patented duly Z, W25

CLIFFORD NORTOBLGF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GBAHAILE 6r. NOR-TON COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELB.WARE.

CGMBINATION ELEVATOR AND DOOR, CONTRQL.

Application filed January 17, 1925.

, Z '0 all whomit may concern Be it known that I, Umrronn NORTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Elevator and Door Controls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for controlling the operation of elevator electric motors and bringing about an opening'ot the door to the elevator shaft when the ole vator comes to rest at a level with the landing.

The usual practice in the art is to manipulate the elevator motor controller to bring the car to rest at a landing and thereafter to operate the door actuating mechanism to open the same and allow entrance or exit from the elevator car to the landing.

The 0' ,ct of my invention generally stated is to speed up the operation of bringing the elevator to rest at a landing and .opening the door and my invention consists essentially inputting the door operating mechanism under the direct control of the elevator motor control apparatus -in such manner that when the elevator control is thrown to neutral the mechanism for operating the door will be automatically brought into action, In other words, the apparatus is so organized that the act of bringing the elevator to rest by throwing the elevator controller to zero will not only stop the motor but will automatically bring the door operating mechanism into action to eilect the opening of tln door, these operations taking place when the elevator reaches the landing at which entrance or exit of passengers is to be permitted.

Essentially my invention serves to combine the door control and the motorcontrol in one and the same handle, namely the motor control handle.

In the preferred manner of carrying out my invention the door operating mechanism is under the control of an electromagnet or suitable magnetic means preferably on the car, which magnet in turn controls the positioh' of the actuating device that serves to bring the door operating mechanism into op eration and the elevator controller acts in Serial No. 2,980.

its neutral position on an electric switch that governs the electric condition of said magnet.

My invention is applicable to what are known as self-levelling or automatic levelling elevators. v

My invention further consists in means whereby injury or damage to the actuating devices which bring the door operating mechanism into operation may be avoided in casethe operator, while passing a. floor, or while the car is moving, should throw the elevator cont-roller suddenly to the neutral position or position such that the means on the car for bringing about the operation of the door will be caused to change position or condition. To accomplish this result I preferably provide a. circuit breaker which acts on a circuit of the controller magnet for the door operating magnet and is in turn operated from a connection with the circuits of the elevator controller or elevator motor in such manner that so long as the elevator is in motion at a dangerously high speed, the electrically controlled magnet of the door operating mechanism will be maintained in inoperative condition.

In carrying out this part of my invention the neutralizing magnet controlling the neutralizing switch may be connected into the circuit of what is known as the magnet for the first accelerating switch of the electric controller of the elevator.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of an elevator shaft door and the mechanism for operating the same.

Fig. 2 is a detail of the mechanism mounted upon the floor of an elevator car for controlling the operation of the mechanism of the elevator shaft door.

Figs. 8 and 9 are details of a cam which operates the switch Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a iragmentary detail of a front elevation of a controller in its a tuating position.

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Fig. 11. is an electrical diagram of the circuits pertaining to the mechanism. The type of doors and operating mechanism therefor suitable for use in carrying out my invention will be first described in connection with the drawings.

The two sections of double-acting or telescoping door at an elevator landing are indicated respectively at 1, 1. Section 1 carries a link or lever 2 pivoted at 3 to said section and pivotally connected at 4 to. a lever 5 that is pivoted at 6 on section 1. Said lever 5 is pivotally connected with an operating arm 7 liaving--a-.-pivotal hearing at 8 on a suitable bracket in the side of the opening. Said lever 7 is connected with actuating mechanism of any desired type, such for instance as that described in a prior application for patent filed by me on July 7th 1923, Serial No. 650,044, and comprising a pneumatic actuated piston and 1 power storing spring contained in cylinder 9 for applying pneumatic power to actuating lever 7 and open the door, the closing movement being elfected by the action of a spring in which power is stored during the opening movement. i

At 10 is indicated a suitably guided crosshead connected with the piston rod, said head being secured to a rod 11 pivotally joined to the lever 7. Said rod 11 also con nects with the pivoted actuating lever 4: for the pistons of the dashpots 12 as described in my prior application referred to, for checking the movements of the door in both directions but, inasmuch as the use of the dashpots is not essential to accomplish the purposes of my present invention, they need not be further described.

At 13 is indicated a casing for a power controlling switch whose operating member is operatively connected with the lever 7 in such manner that when the door is opened the switch comes into action to cut elf the power of the elevator motor and make it impossible to operate the same so long as the door is open. This power controlling switch may be of any desired type, a type suitable for the purpose being mentioned in my previous application referred to and, inasmuch as its action is not involved in the operation of the apparatus operatin acments.

or member 17 arran ed in osition to be O engaged by a shoe or cam device 18 mounted on the car in the manner usually employed in the art. Said shoe or cam is in osition to actuate the bell crank and the va ve controlling rod 15 when the elevator, the floor of which is indicated at 19, is approximately level with the landing floor. Said cam or shoe 18 is projected to engage the arm 17 and throw the rod 15 by means of a lever 20 pivotally mounted on the car and pivotally joined to the shoe 18, a second parallel motion link or lever 20? being also preferably employed in connection with the shoe 18.

The action of the valve rod 15, when li't'ted, serves to apply pneumatic or other power to the piston of the cylinder, thereby causing the door to be opened by the action of the door operating mechanism. WVhen the rod 15 drops under the action of gravity or otherwise, the power controlling valve 14 permits the exhaust of the applied pressure in the cylinder and allows the spring in which power has been stored in the door gpening movement to act and close the cor.

is under the control of an electromagnet or other suitable magnetic means on the car, which operates to project or retract the shoe or cam 18 as required respectively for the 'door opening and closing move A form of magnetic means suitable for the purposes of my invention comprises an electric motor 21 suitably mounted on the elevator car and geared up to a shaft 22 carrying a crank arm 23 with which one end of a chain or cord 24 is connected.

The other end of said chain runs over a pulley 25 and connects with a crank arm 26' extending from the shaft carrying the arm 20. NVhen the motor is energized, arm 23 is turned in the direction of the arrow and the arm 20 with attached shoe or cam is held retracted so long as the motor remains energized. A suitable stop for the crank arm 23 is indicated at 27. lVhen the motor is de-energizcd a'spring 28 actuated by the crank arm 26 serves to project the cam or shoe 18, this causing it to engage and operate the bell crank 16 thereby, through the means described, causing the door operating mechanism to act.

Themotor and the connected mechanism for projecting or withdrawing the cam or operating shoe 18 is of the general type sometimes employed in connection with push-button systems of elevator control but may be of any other desired construction suitably organized to act upon means at the elevator landing for controlling the door operating mechanism. The magnetically actuated means 21 for controlling the action of the door operating mechanism In the preferred manner of carrying out my invention the door operating mechanlsm' lil tit)

governed in its action, as will benow .descvubed, by means of what may be termed door controller 'or electric switch connected with an electric controller mounted on the electric controller of the elevator, whereby the movements of the car up and down and the stoppage at the landings are main parts of an elevator controller of the type heretofore employed in the art and with which the door controller is combined according to my invention, are illustrateu in the Figs. 3 to inclusive. The base of closing be for the controller is indicated at while 31 indicates the pivot upon which the controller arm swings. The controller is operated by the usual handle 38 which utter is suitably attached to the rotary plate having a. skeleton M11132. The contact. controller indicated at 35 is suitably attached to the controller arm or skeleton and moves over a series of switch contacts 36 connected to the usual accelerating switches operating the motor contacts.

The position automatically assumed by the controller arm when the handle is freed is shown in 3 This position, when swung to the right "for instance to bring the elevator motor into action, is shown in li ig. it), this position being, it may be assumed, the position for raising the elevator car. lVhen swung to the left the controller operates in the usual way to lower the elevator. The position automatically assumed by the controller and handle when the handle is released is shown in Fig. 3. The controller may be automatically moved to this position by the action of the spring 60. This is the neutral position for the elevator controller. In this position the elevator controller operates upon the door controlling switch that, by governing the action of the magnetic device 21, brings about the operation of the door opening mechanism through the means already described. This doorcontrollingswitch may be constructed. as tollows:-

Secured to an insulating plate or block carrying the contact members of the electric motor controller is a plate 38 of bakclite or other insulating material shown in detail in Figs. 4- and having a recess or countcrsinlr 3% in its bottom in which is held or fastened, by suitable screws a0, a pair of contacting members all. These members ll may form a tcrminalof plates 42 fastened beneath binding screws 43, said plates being bent around from the point ot' attachment to the face of the block where they connect with the binding screws 43, down and under the. block, into position at the bottom of the countersink. The circuit is made and broken by means of a suitable bridging plate or conductor 4st secured to the inner end of a to complete the circuit between terminals.

43 by means of a coiled spring 46 mounted in the recess in the bottom of block 38 and fastened in position by a plate 4-71 Suitably secured to the controller arm is an actuating cam or button 48 in such position that when the controller arm is thrown or permitted to move to the neutral position, such for instance as indicated in Fig. 3, the button will be pressed inward against the restraining action of the spring 16 thereby breaking the circuit between the terminals a3, 43 and through suitable connections, such for instance as illustrated in the diagram, to nose the motor or magnetic actuating means 21 to be (lo-energized, thereby. as already described, bringing the door operating mechanism into action to cause the door to be opened. The actuating button or am 18 is preferably a projection from a plate of insulating material ll) suitably fastcned to the rear side of the controller arm 32 as clearly shown in Fig.7. I

One of the particular ways of connecting up the apparatus in circuit to effect the above resultis illustrated in the diagram Fig. 11. As shown herein the door control- .ling switch operated by the cam 48 does not act directly on the circuit of the motor but operates through the intervention of a relay switch the contacts of which are indicated at 50 in the diagram; 51 is the relay magnet. Normallythc circuit through the door controlling switch on t ie motor controller by way of contacts all is through the coil 51 of the relay switch the armature of which is held by the action of said coil in position to complete the circuit of the motor across the contacts 50, so that, the motor magnet 21 will be normally energized so long as the door controlling switch on the motor controller is closed. When howeverthe button or cam 48 011 the motor controller is caused, by the movement of the motor controller handle to neutral position, to engage the button 45, the circuit of the relay magnet is opened and the circuit of the motor 21 is opened in obvious manner, the result being that the sprin 28 projects the cam 18 to cause the controller rod 15 to operate the valve by which power is applied to opentbe door.

An automatic lock for holding the motor controller arm in the neutral position such as is usually employed in this class of apparatus is indicated at This comprises a dog or shoe riding on rails 53 extending in opposite direction in arcs of circles away from the neutral position ot the controller arm and a suitable spring 54% in the controller handle 33 which presses the dog against tlldlall and forces the dog or stop its action is unnecessary.

down into the space between the ends of the rails where it will engage with the ends as locking shoulders. To disengage the dog or latch the controller handle 33 is pulled outwardly. This device being of a kind well known in the art, further description of In order to avoid the risk of damage to the device through projection of the operating cam or bar 18 while the motor is running at considerable speed, suitable means are employed whereby the door control and switch which brings said cam 18 intoaction, is

itself rendered inoperative. Preferably this is effected by means of a shunting'switch which shunts the circuitof the contacts ll around said contacts, said shunting switch being itself held in shunting position by the action-of a magnet52. Thismagnet 52 may be placed in the circuit of the magnet of the first accelerating switch for the elevator motor',controller and may be'in fact the magnet of said accelerating switch itself. So long as the circuit of the magnet of said first accelerating switch is excited the door controlling switch, will be inoperative, the circuit for the magnet 51 being at such time shunted around said door controlling switch. When however the first accelerating switch drops out of action on slowingdown of the motor to a safe speed of motor and car, the shunting of the door switch ceases and the same can become effective through the action of the cam 48 when the controller arm assumes neutral position.

The eii'cct of this arrangement is that it the elevator is moving between floors and the ope 'ator suddenly throws the switch to neutral position, the ellect thereof 'on the door controlling switch will not immediately be felt and the latter can only function when the speed of the car and motor has fallen sufiiciently to cause the shunting or neutralizing switch vto be thrown out of action.

The general operation of the apparatus which is in part indicated bytlie "foregoing description is as follows When the car is at a landing and the motor controller handle stands in neutral position the door controlling switch is open and the motor 21 (lo-energized. The cam 18 therefore stands in projected position to raise the pneumatic controller rod 15 so that the door is held in the open position by the actionof the pneumatic piston. On moving the controllerhandle in either direction from neutral position between the locki'ng shoulders on the ends of the. rail 53 towards position to engage the accelerating contacts operating on up or down movement of the elevator ar, the first efiect is to close the door controlling switch thereby energizing the motor magnet 21 with the effect of drawing back the operating cam or shoe 18'and permitting the valve controlling rod 15 to drop and withdraw ti a pneumatic power acting on the piston of t cylinder. The spring in which power has been stored within the cylinder then to move the door towards the closed position, the further movement of the controlle arm away from neutral results in the usual op erations upon the circuits of the elevator motor and the car moves away from tl landing. When the car reaches the acne automatic levelling for the landing at the car is to be stopped, the controller is moved back to neutral position and, J acting on-the door controller switch at such neutral position, causes the motor 21 to be de-energized with the effect of projecting the cam or shoe 18, raising the valve controlling rod 15, and causing the door to be opened by pneumatic power applied to the door mechanism.

WVhat I claim as my invention is 2-- 1. In an elevator well door controlling apparatus, the combination of an elevator controller and an electric door controller engaged by theformcr in the neutral'position of said controller to bring the door operating mechanism into action. 2. The combination with an elevator motor controller of elevator well doorcontrolling means engaged by said motor con troller inlhe neutral position thereof.

3. The combination with an elevator motor controller of an elevator well door controlling switch engaged by said motor controller in the neutral position thereof.

l. In a combined elevator and door control for the elevator well doors the combination of an elevator controller having proper" accelerating members broughtinto action on movement of the handle in either direction from neutral position to produce the up and down movement of the elevator, an elevator well door operating mechanism, a controlling magnet therefor and switch contacts connected to the circuit of said magnet and engaged by the movable elevator control device in the neutral position thereof to effect an opening of the door.

, 5. In an elevator controller and door operating apparatus, the combination with an electric elevator controller of a switch actuated thereby in the neutral position of the controller handle, a door operating mechanism and magnetically actuated means for controlling the action of the door operating mechanism, said magnetically actuated means being connected to a circuit of said trolled door actuating mechanism having a switch or circuit controller engaged and operated by the elevator controller in the neutral position of the latter and means for neutralizing the action of said switch during the movement of the elevator car while the elevator is moving at or above a predetermined speed.

7. The combination of an elevator controller, a door controlling switch engaged by the former in its neutral position and means for rendering the door controlling switch inoperative upon its circuit while the elevator is moving.

8. In a combined elevator and door control apparatus,the combination of magnetic means controlling the action of the door operating mechanism, a switch controlling the action of said magnetic means and engaged and operated by the elevator controller in the neutral position thereof and a neutralizing switch for cutting the former switch out of actionand magnetically controlled in turn through a. connection with a circuit of the elevator motor control apparatus.

9. In a combined elevator and door electric control, the combination of a switch controlling the action of the door control and a neutralizing switchfor neutralizing the action of the latter, said neutralizing switch being actuated over the circuit for first accelerating switch of the elevator controller.

10.111 a combined elevator and door electric control, the combination of a' switch controlling the action of the door control and a neutralizing switch for neutralizing the action of the latter, said neutralizing switch being actuated by the magnet of the first accelerating switch of the elevator con troller.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 15th day of January, A. D. 1925.

QLIFFORD NORTON. 

